Article carrier and method of interlocking a pair of panels in face contacting relation

ABSTRACT

An article carrier of the wraparound type having top, bottom and sidewalls foldably joined along their side edges to form a tubular structure wherein one wall is a composite panel incorporating a pair of face contacting lap panels is provided with locking means in the form of a locking tab formed in one of the lap panels which is inserted through an opening defined by a retaining tab formed in the other lap panel and disposed in coincidental relationship with respect to the locking tab. Formation of the lock is facilitated by angularly extending slits formed in the lap panel in which the opening is formed. One end of each slit is in communication with one side of the opening. During formation of the lock the laterally projecting shoulders of the arrowhead type locking tab are received by the slits so as to facilitate the formation of the lock. Upon completion of the lock the lateral projections of the locking tab are out of registry with the slits.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Prentice J. Wood Jonesboro, Ga. [21]App]. No. 811,859 [22] Filed Apr. 1, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971[73] Assignee The Mead Corporation [54] ARTICLE CARRIER AND METHOD OFINTERLOCKING A PAIR OF PANELS IN FACE CONTACTING RELATION 2 Claims, 3Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 229/40, 206/65 [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/04, 865d 75/00 [50] Fieldof Search 206/65 (C); 229/40, 21; 24/l7.l

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,367,557 2/1968 Farquhar229/40 2,798,603 7/1957 Grinspoon 206/65(C) 2,786,572 3/1957 Gentry206/65(C) 1,774,069 8/1930 Schlitz 229/21X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,436,0663/1966 France 206/65(C) Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer AttorneyWalter M.Rodgers ABSTRACT: An article carrier of the wraparound type having top,bottom and sidewalls foldably joined along their side edges to form atubular structure wherein one wall is a composite panel incorporating apair of face contacting lap panels is provided with locking means in theform of a locking tab formed in one of the lap panels which is insertedthrough an opening defined by a retaining tab formed in the other lappanel and disposed in coincidental relationship with respect to PATENTEUum I e IQTI FIGII FIG. 2

FIG. 5

FIG. 4

FIG. 3.

INVENTOR PRENTICE J. WOOD BY 1 my ATTORNEY ARTICLE CARRIER AND METHOD OFINTERLOCKING A PAIR OF PANELS llN FAGE CONTACTING RELATION US. Pat. No.2,751,730 issued Jun. 26, 1956 discloses an article carrier havingarrowhead-type locking tabs which are driven through openings defined byretaining tabs so as to secure the carrier blank about a group ofarticles to be packaged. This patent discloses and claims a machine andmethod for driving the locking tabs through the openings defined by theretaining tabs, Since the packaging process of U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,730is performed continuously as the carton wrapper and items to be packagedare moved continuously along a predetermined path, it is necessary tomove the locking mechanism in synchronism with the movement of the blankand articles.

According to this invention, arrowhead type locking tabs and theirassociated retaining tabs and openings are specially adapted for theformation of the lock by static plows Stated otherwise, slits are formedin one panel of the carton adjacent the locking aperture to facilitatemanipulation of the locking tab with reference to the opening defined bythe retaining tab.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wraparound carton constructedaccording to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank used in forming the carton shown inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary perspective views showing the insertion ofthe locking tab into an opening defined by the retaining tab, FIG. 3depicting an initial stage of the locking operation and FIG. 4 depictinga later stage of such an operation, portions of the blank surroundingthe locking tab being omitted for the sake of clarity; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged end view ofthe locking elements inlocked condition.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates the top wall of acarrier having side edges 2 and 3. A plurality of can receiving slits 4,5 and 6 are formed along the fold line 2 and similar slits 7, 8 and 9are formed along fold line 3.

To facilitate carrying the package, a pair of tabs 10 and 11 are struckfrom the top panel 1 and are foldably joined thereto along the foldlines 12 and 13 respectively. These tabs simply are folded inwardly intovacant spaces within the package to form finger gripping apertures as iswell known.

In order to facilitate opening of the package. a conventional tear strip14 is formed in top panel 1 and functions in known manner.

For the purpose of separating the cans such as C1 in one row from thecans such as C2 in the other row, a plurality of tabs such as areindicated at 15, 16 and 17 are struck from top panel 1. Preferablythough not necessarily, these tabs are of the type which are doubledback on themselves so that the extreme outer end of each tab ridesunderneath one of the can chimes so as to hold the top panel 1 intoclose proximity to the tops of the cans.

The sidewalls of the carton are designated by the numerals l8 and 19respectively and such walls are foldably joined to top wall 1 along foldlines 2 and 3 respectively.

The bottom ofthe carrier is a composite panel made up ofa pair oflappanels designated by the numerals 20 and 21 which are foldably joinedrespectively to the sidewalls 18 and 19 along fold lines 22v and 23.

For receiving the bottom portions of the cans, a plurality of slits 24,25 and 26 are formed along fold line 22 while similar slits 27,28 and 29are formed alongfold line 237 For the purpose of tightening the wrapperas depicted in FIG. 2 about an article group, tightening aperturesdesignated by the numeral 30 are formed in lap panel 20 and similartightening apertures 31 are formed in lap panel 21. As is wellunderstood in the art, suitable machine elements enter the tighteningapertures 30 and 31 and these elements are manipulated so as to draw thewrapper in tight relationship about the articles to be packaged.

With the wrapper tightened about its associated article group, it thenis necessary to secure the lap panels 20 and 21 together. Toward thisend locking tabs 32 and 33 are inserted into the openings defined byretaining tabs 34 and 35.

The locking tabs 32 and 33 are identical as are the openings defined bythe retaining tabs 34 and 35. Only one locking tab and one retaining taband its associated opening are here described.

Locking tab 33 for example is provided with a main part 36 which extendsin a direction which is generally parallel to the end edges such as 37and 38 of the bottom panel comprising lap panels 20 and 21. In addition,locking tabs such as 33 are provided with lateral projections 39 and 40.

Retaining tab is formed by two parallel slits defining the side edges ofthe retaining tab and by a transverse slit connecting the ends of theparallel slits. Of course, when the retaining tab is folded inwardly andout of the plane of its associated panel, an opening is fonned whereinthe locking tab such as 33 is received.

When the carton is assembled and with the lap panels 20 and 21 in lockedcondition, retaining tabs such as 35 extend in the opposite directionfrom the locking tabs such as 33.

In order to facilitate insertion of the locking tab 33 into the openingdefined by retaining tab 35, a pair of slits 41 and 42 are formed in lappanel 21 alongside the sides ofthe retaining tab and with their innerends extending into the side edges of the opening defined by retainingtab 35. As is apparent particularly from FIG. 2, these slits 41 and 42are disposed at an angle with respect to side edges of the openingdefined by the retaining tab 35, Thus lateral projections 39 and 40 oflocking tab 33 are received respectively by slits 41 and 42 during theformation of the lock. Furthermore, the main portion 36 of the lockingtab 33 is approximately the same width as is the width of the retainingtab 35. Since the slits 41 and 42 are disposed at an angle to the sidesof the opening defined by retaining tab 35, the lateral projections 39and 40 of locking tab 33 fall out of registry with the slits after thelock is formed and upon completion ofthe locking operation.

The locking tabs such as 32 and 33 first must be swung out of the planeof the lap panel 20. Thereafter the lap panel 20 and locking tabs suchas 32 and 33 are plowed for instance by static means into cooperativerelationship with the lap panel 21 and the openings defined by theretaining tabs 34 and 35. As is apparent from FIG. 4, locking tab 33assumes temporarily a slightly curved configuration when its lateralprojections pass through the angular slits 41 and 42. However after thelocking tab is fully inserted and seated within the opening defined byretaining tab 35, the locking tab returns due to the resilience of thematerial to its initial flat condition whereby the lateral projectionsbecome positioned out of registry with the slits 41 and 42. It will benoted also that during the formation of the lock, locking tab 33 pushesthe retaining tab 35 upwardly and inwardly so that the retaining tabassumes an angle to the lap panel 21 and in effect props the locking tab33 at an angle to lap panel 20 and thereby aids in securing the lock asshown in FIG. 5. Movement ofthe lap panels is such that when the lock iscompleted lap panel 20 is in face contacting relation to lap panel 21and locking tabs 33'and 34 are fully inserted within the openingsdefined by retaining tabs 34 and 35. The width of the main portion ofthe locking tab is approximately equal to the width of the associatedretaining tab and the lateral projections on the locking tab extended ina lateral direction a distance substantially equal to the lateralcomponents of the slits.

It will be understood that the angular slits such as 41 and 42 provide aclear passage for the lateral projections of the locking tab withoutweakening these projections. At the same time the formation of the lockis greatly simplified in that simple plow means can be employed.

Iclaim:

1. An article carrier of the wraparound-type comprising top, side andbottom walls foldably joined to form a tubular structure, one wall ofthecarrier being a composite panel including a pair of lap panels disposedin overlapping relation to each other, a locking tab formed completelywithin one of said lap panels and including a main portion generallyparallel to the end edges of said composite panel and having lateralprojections on opposite sides thereof, a retaining tab formed in theother of said lap panels and in general parallel coincidence with saidlocking tab, said retaining tab extending in a longitudinal directionwhich is generally opposite to the direction in which said locking tabextends when in locked condition, and a pair of slits formed in saidother lap panel and extending into the opening defined by said retainingtab, said slits being disposed to receive the lateral projections onsaid locking tab thereby to facilitate insertion of said iocking tabinto the opening defined by said retaining tab, said slits beingarranged so that one end of each slit coincides with a different sideedge of the opening defined by said retaining tab and each slit beingalongside and diverging laterally from the associated side edge of theopening.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the width of said main portionof said locking tab is approximately equal to the width of saidretaining tab and wherein said lateral projections on said locking tabextend in a lateral direction a distance substantially equal to thelateral components of said slits respectively.

1. An article carrier of the wraparound-type comprising top, side andbottom walls foldably joined to form a tubular structure, one wall ofthe carrier being a composite panel including a pair of lap panelsdisposed in overlapping relation to each other, a locking tab formedcompletely within one of said lap panels and including a main portiongenerally parallel to the end edges of said composite panel and havinglateral projections on opposite sides thereof, a retaining tab formed inthe other of said lap panels and in general parallel coincidence withsaid locking tab, said retaining tab extending in a longitudinaldirection which is generally opposite to the direction in which saidlocking tab extends when in locked condition, and a pair of slits formedin said other lap panel and extending into the opening defined by saidretaining tab, said slits being disposed to receive the lateralprojections on said locking tab thereby to facilitate insertion of saidlocking tab into the opening defined by said retaining tab, said slitsbeing arranged so that one end of each slit coincides with a differentside edge of the opening defined by said retaining tab and each slitbeing alongside and diverging laterally from the associated side edge ofthe opening.
 2. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein the width of saidmain portion of said locking tab is approximately equal to the width ofsaid retaining tab and wherein said lateral projections on said lockingtab extend in a lateral direction a distance substantially equal to thelateral components of said slits respectively.